News

Home fires occur more in the winter months than any other time of the year. As cold weather encroaches, the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department (FCFRD) encourages residents to be mindful of potential dangers from home heating sources. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), December, January and February are the leading months for home heating fires. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire deaths.

â€śFollowing a few simple safety tips and precautions can prevent most heating fires from happening,â€ť states Chief Larry Few of the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department. â€śWe can reduce the number of home heating fires in our community be taking some simple precautions and using heating equipment properly.â€ť

The Fulton County Fire Rescue Department and NFPA recommend the following heating tips to help prevent winter fires and to stay safe this winter season:

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Be sure your home has both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms, also known as dual sensor smoke alarms.

Practice your home fire escape drill.

Have your chimney inspected each year by a qualified professional and cleaned if necessary.

Use a sturdy fireplace screen.

Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.

Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.

Inspect for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.